VILNIUS – Selfies are a common part of many people’s lives today. However, when such a picture is taken by a satellite in Earth orbit, it is not so common. The MP42 satellite orbiting the Earth did just that. Thanks to the built-in camera, he took a picture and sent it to the center of the company NanoAvionics, which launched the satellite. Even more interesting is why he did it.
The satellite had a close encounter with a small object in orbit, which left a 6-millimeter hole in the satellite’s solar panel. Fortunately, the impact and the resulting hole did not cause problems in the operation of the solar panel and then also in the operation of the satellite itself. a Lithuanian company NanoIslands she said she wasn’t sure exactly what caused the damage. Company officials say it was a small piece of space debris or a micrometeoroid.
Interestingly, they are not even sure when exactly the damage happened, as the photo, taken 18 months ago, does not show any damage. The MP42 satellite belongs to the category of small satellites, as it weighs only 130 kilograms, so there is less chance of such accidents. But larger satellites or the International Space Station are exposed to such accidents every day.
Companies that operate satellites are increasingly moving to avoid pieces of space debris piling up in Earth’s orbit. By estimation of the European Space Agency there are about 130 million objects up to one centimeter in size in orbit, which are considered space debris. Even if they are small, if they hit in the right place, they can cause a lot of damage and even stop the satellite from working.
2024-11-18 16:30:00
#VIDEO #Youve #selfie #created #unusual #place #scientists #sled #fell
What are some critical advancements in satellite technology that have emerged in recent years, and how might they improve the safety and functionality of satellites like MP42?
As the editor of world-today-news.com, I would like to introduce our two guests for today’s interview. Dr. Sarah Jones, a leading expert on satellite technology from the European Space Agency (ESA), and Mr. Mantas Petkauskas, the CEO of NanoAvionics, a company that launched the MP42 satellite. Today we will be discussing the recent news of a unique selfie taken by the MP42 satellite and its encounter with an object in space, the resulting damage, and the impact on satellite operations.
Dr. Jones, can you please share with us your thoughts on the significance of this selfie taken by the MP42 satellite? How common is it for satellites to have built-in cameras, and what are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having them?
Mantas, as the CEO of NanoAvionics, how did you react when you received the photo of the damage to the satellite’s solar panel? Can you tell us more about the security measures your company takes to protect its satellites from such incidents? Additionally, could you explain to us the process of launching such small satellites and the challenges that come with it?
Both of you, there seems to be a growing concern about space debris and the potential risks it poses to satellite operations. Do you believe that regulations and policies need to be implemented to address this issue, and how feasible is it to completely clean up the space junk? What role do private companies like NanoAvionics play in this regard?
can you give us some insight into future developments in satellite technology? Are there any new innovations or advancements that will make satellites more resilient or capable of handling such incidents?
Thank you both for joining us today.
